Waterproofing and to the treatment of materials with a view to rendering them resistant to the action of atmospheric conditions



Patented Jan. 31, 1933 n V UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE BIGHARD LANT, VIENNA, AUSTRIA WATERPROOFING AND TO THIJ TREATMENT OF MATERIALS WITH A TO RENDERING TEEM RESISTANT TO THE ACTION OF ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS Ho Drawing. Application filed February 12,1980, Serial No. 427,998, and in Great Britain October 18, 1989.

This invention relates to water roofing and particularly to the waterproofing of gut. Gut, as is well known, is used fora variety of purposes under tension as, for instance, I in the stringing of tennis rackets and it is found that in consequence of variations in humidity of the atmosphere the tension of the gut varies with the result that it may be subjected to stress resulting in its breakage.

The invention is based upon the observation that higher fatty acid esters of cellulose dissolved in suitable solvents may be em ployed for waterproofing or rendering gut resistant to the effects of variation in atmospheric humidity. v

The invention consists in gut waterproofed or rendered resistant to the action of humidity by treatment with compositions containin in solution higher fatty acid esters of cel- In ose and articles, particularly tennis rackets, strung with sucht.

By the expression igher fatty acid esters as used herein is meant esters of fatty acids the glycerides of which constitute the essential constituents of non-drying oils and fats and as an example of such fatty acid esters the stearic acid. esters may be given. 7

Certain esters of cellulose "of higher fatty acid are insoluble in the majority of organic solvents while others, for instance di-stearate of cellulose, are soluble in solvents such as xylol and in the form of a solution may be conveniently employed in carrying the invntion into effect. A suitable composition in accordance with the invention adapted for use as a varnish or impregnating medium is cellulose di-stearate dissolved in xylol.

By the treatment of gut with. such compositions it may be rendered resistant to the action of humidity and for this and other reasons may exhibit a greater resistance to wear than gut which has not been treated.

In a particular case it was found that by im 'regnating the gut strin of lawn tennis rac ets with solutions. of ce ulose di-stearate in xylol the gut after the rackets had been in use and e osed to atmospheric conditions over a peri of several weeks exhibited no sign of wear and no breakage of the gut octions in accordance with the invention as ap plied to the treatment of gut, for instance, are to be attributed to the resistance of the same to the saponifying influence of moist air and to their greater resistance to the penetration of moisture as compared with the varnishes or compositions which are ordinarily used. Where desirable or necessary oils or resins, fatty oils of a non-drying, semi-drying, or dryin character, or mineral oils or waxes, artificlal or thetic resins or mixtures of these materia s may be included in the compositions to be applied to the gut, to be waterproofed. Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by lletters Patent is:

1. Gut treated with a higher fatty acid ester of cellulose. v 4

2. Gut treated with a stearic acid ester of cellulose.

8. Gut treated witha stearic acid ester .of cellulose in association with a modifying agent 4. Gut treated with a stearic acid ester of cellulose in association with an oleaginous material.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. 

